453 (down 7 from last season's 460) entries have been accepted but Wycombe Wanderers and Yeovil Town have not entered. Consequently the 363 non-league clubs are playing for 37 places in the 1st Round instead of the usual 32. These 37 will join the 47 (missing Wycombe Wanderers) Tier 3 & 4 clubs for two rounds to leave 21 joining the 43 (missing Yeovil Town) Tier 1 & 2 clubs in the 3rd Round (last 64)

F.A. NOTES TO THE PRELIMINARY QUALIFYING AND FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING TIES

MATCH DATESAll ties must be played in week commencing Monday 9th September 2013, kick-off 7p.m., unless mutually agreed otherwise. Clubs are reminded that when agreeing dates with opponents that ties in the F.A .Youth Cup Competition take priority over all other games with the exception of home first team commitments. This therefore means that matches in the Competition take priority over other Youth and Reserve team matches. If problems are experienced in fixing a date to avoid 1st XI fixtures, please contact the F.A. Competitions Department for assistance.

MATCH ARRANGEMENT FORM – DO NOT POST Home Clubs must ensure that the Match Arrangement Form is received by The F.A. Competitions Department by Friday 9th August 2013 by faxing to 0844-980-0611 or e-mailing to competition.results@thefa.com DO NOT POST.

PLAYER QUALIFICATION DATEThe player qualification date is 12 noon on the day previous to the date fixed for playing the match, this includes postponements. A “registered player” is one who is either, in the case of a player under written contract, registered with The Association or, in the case of a player without a written contract, registered with a League in which his Club competes in the current season. Any such registration must have been received and accepted by The Association or League by 12 noon on the day previous to the date fixed for playing the match, and the registration must be continuous through to the date of the match.

AGE GROUP BRACKETSOnly those players are eligible to take part who have reached the age of 15 years by midnight on 31st August of the current season and not reached the age of 18 years as at midnight on 31st August of the current season. For season 2013-2014 a player must have been born 1st September 1995 to 31st August 1998.

There are now eight byes in this round Ellistown & Ibstock United (shown as Ibstock United match 31), Oadby (already shown above), Leamington, Malvern Town, Walsall Wood, Burnham Ramblers and Bishop Sutton all withdrawn and Bitton have been removed